Construction Of Mugabe Mausoleum Shelved | Report

The Government has reportedly abandoned plans to exhume the late former President Robert Mugabe’s remains from Zvimba for reburial in a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

NewsDay reported a top Government official as saying work on the construction of a mausoleum where Mugabe’s remains were supposed to be reburied has been halted. Said the source:

The mausoleum project has since been dumped, that is the news that we have so far.

As the construction of the mausoleum continued in 2021, Mugabe’s family was taken to court by a Zvimba traditional leader who ruled that his remains be exhumed and reburied at the National Heroes Acre.

Mugabe’s widow, Grace, was fined five cows and two goats for improperly burying her husband by Chief Zvimba (born Stanley Mhondoro) in May last year.

Mugabe’s children, however, challenged Chief Zvimba’s ruling, arguing that he acted outside his jurisdiction.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo told NewsDay that the construction of the mausoleum was a Mugabe family issue. Said Moyo:

Why can’t you ask the Mugabe family about the mausoleum issue? As the government, we have to follow what the family wants and their wishes.

Mugabe family spokesperson Leo Mugabe said that nothing has changed pertaining to the burial of Mugabe.

Mugabe was buried in a heavily fortified grave in the courtyard of his rural home village of Kutama, about 90km west of the capital Harare amid claims that some of his erstwhile colleagues in ZANU PF could use his corpse for ritual purposes.

More: NewsDay